Jokowi asks Biden to step in and stop atrocities in Gaza

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asked his US counterpart, Joe Biden to intervene and stop the ongoing colonisation and atrocities in Gaza, Palestine.

"This is a heartbreaking issue for humanity," he told Biden in his meeting at the White House on Monday, according to a statement from the Presidential Secretariat.

Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, said Indonesia hopes that the partnership between the two countries can contribute to peace and prosperity at the regional and global levels.

In their meeting, Jokowi emphasised the importance of the US as a key partner for Indonesia.

Both Jokowi and Biden agreed to upgrade the partnership between their countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"For Indonesia, economic cooperation, including dealing with supply chain issues, is important," said Jokowi.

Biden, on the other hand, is committed to increasing cooperation between the two countries through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that symbolises a new era of cooperation in various fields, including security.

Recognising Indonesia's important role in the transition to clean energy, Biden emphasised the need to focus on increasing cooperation in building a secure supply chain and overcoming challenges of the climate crisis.

Biden pledged to strengthen the cooperation between the US and ASEAN, with the aim of advancing a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, while voicing his appreciation of Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN this year.- BERNAMA